Tetanus development during hospitalization in an older adult

Tetanus is a fatal infectious disease caused by neurotoxins produced by Clostridium tetani. Currently, tetanus has no confirmatory tests; it is often diagnosed based on clinical signs and symptoms. Due to vaccination, tetanus is uncommon in developed countries; however, it remains an important differential diagnosis, especially in older adults. Herein, we report the case of an older adult who developed tetanus during the course of his disease although no findings indicated tetanus on admission. Thus, tetanus can develop during hospitalization, and if symptoms such as dysphagia or difficulty opening the mouth occur, tetanus should be considered as a clinical diagnosis.